Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What's different between Crohn's and ulcerative colitis? Both are inflammatory bowel diseases, meaning they cause inflammation somewhere throughout the intestines. But the main difference is where they affect the intestines. With ulcerative colitis, it really only involves the colon, which is the large intestine. For Crohn's disease, however, it can affect anywhere through the entire GI tract, starting in the mouth, coming down the esophagus, stomach, and then the 20 to 30-feet of small intestine. It could also involve the colon. The second difference is that ulcerative colitis really just involves the inside lining of the colon, whereas Crohn's disease can impact the intestines lower down, which can cause more damage over time.
Dartmouth Health is New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serving patients across northern New England. With more than 13,000 employees, we are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.
Read more about IBD if you think you might have the disease at:
dartmouth-hitchcock.org/stories/article/do-you-think-you-might-have-crohns-disease.
What's different between Crohn's and ulcerative colitis? Both are inflammatory bowel diseases, meaning they cause inflammation somewhere throughout the intestines. But the main difference is where they affect the intestines. With ulcerative colitis, it really only involves the colon, which is the large intestine. For Crohn's disease, however, it can affect anywhere through the entire GI tract, starting in the mouth, coming down the esophagus, stomach, and then the 20 to 30-feet of small intestine. It could also involve the colon. The second difference is that ulcerative colitis really just involves the inside lining of the colon, whereas Crohn's disease can impact the intestines lower down, which can cause more damage over time.
Dartmouth Health is New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serving patients across northern New England. With more than 13,000 employees, we are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.
Read more about IBD if you think you might have the disease at:
dartmouth-hitchcock.org/stories/article/do-you-think-you-might-have-crohns-disease.
